Online physical therapy, also known as telehealth or virtual physical therapy, offers patients the convenient opportunity to consult with a physical therapist via video call. Ideal for those on a budget, who require treatment from home, for patients in rural areas lacking access to physical therapy clinics, or when privacy is preferred for pelvic physical therapy needs, such as incontinence, constipation, or pain during sex.
This article outlines how online physical therapy works, what the American Physical Therapy Association says about telehealth, the benefits of scheduling physical therapy appointments from the comfort of your home, and where you can schedule an online pelvic physical therapy assessment.
What is Online Physical Therapy?
Physical therapists are trained to assess and treat physical ailments, injuries, and underlying musculoskeletal conditions that cause pain, affect a patient’s movement, or overall function.
Although traditionally carried out in a clinic, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted physical therapists to find alternative ways of continuing their patients’ treatments. Since then, many physical therapy clinics have continued to offer virtual physical sessions for their clients due to the convenience, accessibility, and efficacy.
How Do Online Physical Therapy Sessions Work?
For telehealth physical therapy sessions, patients require a reliable internet connection and a device capable of video and sound. Comfortable clothing for patients to move freely is advised, as well as a clear space in their home where they can perform exercises undisturbed by furniture or other obstacles.
After scheduling an online physical therapy consultation, a video call is arranged with a licensed physical therapist for an initial assessment, where ailments, mobility, and range of motion are evaluated.
Based on the evaluation results, the physical therapist will suggest a personalized treatment plan that may include stretches, strengthening exercises, and/or therapeutic devices to address each patient’s condition.
During this first video session, physical therapists typically demonstrate and guide patients through the recommended exercises and stretches, while also suggesting adjustments as patients perform the movements on the screen from home.
Ongoing video calls are not only scheduled to track each patient’s form, technique, and progress as the home treatment plan advances but also to provide encouragement and reassurance along the way.
What Does the American Physical Therapy Association Say About Telehealth?
A 2022 press release from the American Physical Therapy Association clarified that online physical therapy is not provided via an app or technology but through a real person with the required qualifications.
Therefore, online physical therapy is “not physical therapy unless a physical therapist performs an examination and evaluation and develops a plan of care, and the care is delivered by a physical therapist or by a physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical therapist.”
Is Online Physical Therapy Easier?
Practicing the exercises and stretches recommended by a physical therapist is no easier or harder to perform at home, but having physical therapy from the comfort of home is often easier due to the convenience, affordability, and privacy involved.
The convenience of scheduling an online physical therapy session at a time that suits each person, regardless of their location, makes it more accessible to patients in rural areas and those with time constraints or busy schedules. Telehealth physical therapy is also more accessible for patients with injuries, pain, and mobility issues.
Furthermore, the ease of not leaving the house for treatment often means patients are more likely to stick to appointments and participate more in their ongoing care.
Lastly, online physical therapy is typically more cost-effective than visiting a clinic and offers more privacy when treating pelvic health issues or conditions that may cause embarrassment for some.
Do You Need Special Equipment for Online Physical Therapy?
Generally speaking, no, but in certain instances physical therapists may recommend specialised equipment to help ease certain injuries and conditions during online physical therapy sessions. Although alternatives found at home can sometimes replace this equipment, there are a few cases where this is not advised.
For example, resistance bands, dumbbells, foam rollers, ankle and cuff weights, stationary bikes, and treadmills are commonly used to improve balance, flexibility, and strength during physical therapy. With online physical therapy, alternatives such as canned food instead of dumbbells, luggage straps in place of resistance bands, or short walks instead of treadmills can be incorporated if it’s not possible to purchase the recommended equipment.
For online pelvic physical therapy, specially designed pelvic wands, Kegel weights, and vaginal dilators are sometimes recommended to address pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, or pain during sex. And due to the delicate sensitivity of the intimate areas when addressing pelvic health, patients are always advised to follow the advice from their pelvic physical therapists.
For instance, the most effective pelvic wands, Kegel weights, and vaginal dilators are perfectly shaped and often ergonomically designed by pelvic health experts for optimal results. Added to that, the safest outer coating for pelvic health tools is a velvety-smooth, non-porous, non-irritating, medical-grade silicone that is easily cleaned after use to prevent further irritation or infection.
For these reasons, using homemade alternatives for pelvic physical therapy should be avoided.
Has Online Physical Therapy Been Proven Effective?
Given the surge of online physical therapy in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, research into its efficacy is ongoing; however, the outlook remains positive and encouraging.
For example, in comparison to in-person treatment, feedback during the pandemic showed that patients were just as satisfied with online physical therapy treatment as with in-clinic care.
A study during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown concluded that online physical therapy was just as effective as traditional physical therapy for knee arthroplasty rehabilitation.
And in September 2021, a press release from The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) confirmed telehealth “as a well‐defined and established method of health services delivery.”
Where Can You Book the Best Online Pelvic Physical Therapy Sessions?
If you’re seeking help with pelvic pain, pelvic injuries, pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, constipation, postpartum discomfort, perineal tearing, pelvic organ prolapse, endometriosis, dyspareunia, or vaginismus, a free virtual pelvic physical therapy assessment at Intimate Rose can help you recover and live life to the fullest again.
Licensed physical therapy experts at Intimate Rose are led by world-renowned developer of pelvic health tools, Dr. Amanda Olson. After experiencing a pelvic injury of her own, Dr. Olson became a licensed pelvic physical therapist and created Intimate Rose with the mission to improve pelvic health for people around the world.
Today, Intimate Rose Pelvic Wands are used and recommended by physical therapists globally. And Intimate Rose Vaginal Dilators are the only silicone dilators to be fully FDA cleared.
Trusted by over 14,000 healthcare providers and recommended by thousands of 5-star reviews, Intimate Rose online pelvic physical therapy provides guidance and support for millions. You’ll not only find expert online pelvic therapy, but also a supportive community via real-life connections in our Facebook group, and all the pelvic health tools needed for recovery.
Following a FREE pelvic therapy assessment, we’ll connect you with the best physical therapist for your needs via a 1:1 virtual video call, who will then demonstrate the ideal treatment plan to address your condition at home. Each online pelvic physical therapy session at Intimate Rose lasts 45 minutes and costs as little as $99 with no hidden fees or subscriptions.
While some patients are confident to proceed on their own after an initial demonstration of exercises and stretches, others prefer additional sessions for guidance, support, and feedback. Essentially, the amount and regularity of sessions scheduled are up to each client.
Contact us here to schedule your FREE pelvic health assessment, and we’ll connect you with one of our licensed physical therapists for guided and expert care from the comfort of your home.
Conclusion
Largely prompted by COVID lockdowns, telehealth, virtual, or online physical therapy is recognized as effective, safe, and as satisfactory as in-person physical therapy. In addition to being more convenient, private, and accessible, online physical therapy is also cost-effective. This is particularly true for women experiencing disconcerting symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction that may require long-term or ongoing treatment.
If you are seeking help to ease pelvic floor dysfunction or underlying gynecological conditions impacting your pelvic floor health, click here to schedule an online pelvic physical therapy assessment with a licensed specialist at Intimate Rose.
References
National Library of Medicine - Telerehabilitation Is a Valid Option for Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Retrospective Pilot Study Based on Our Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10530780/
National Library of Medicine - Patient Satisfaction for Telehealth Physical Therapy Services Was Comparable to that of In-Person Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7571303/
American Physical Therapy Association - Telehealth Physical Therapy Is Provided by Licensed Therapists, Not Technology - https://www.apta.org/news/2021/09/22/telehealth-provided-licensed-pts
Johns Hopkins Medicine - Pelvic Floor Therapy - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pelvic-floor-therapy